Check and Rotate Expiring Access Keys for AWS IAM Users

This task involves deactivating IAM (Identity and Access Management) access keys in AWS that have surpassed a specified age or are no longer in use, as a measure to enhance security. Regularly auditing and deactivating stale or outdated access keys restrict unauthorized or inadvertent access to AWS resources and services. This task deactivates access keys that are identified as old, thereby ensuring they cannot be used to authenticate API requests. This practice is pivotal in a robust IAM policy to assure that only active and necessary access keys are in circulation, thereby safeguarding the AWS environment against potential malicious activities or inadvertent misconfigurations by reducing the attack surface and adhering to the principle of least privilege.

This task involves generating a new set of credentials – an access key ID and a secret access key – for an AWS Identity and Access Management (IAM) user. These credentials are vital for programmatic access to AWS services, enabling API calls to be authenticated and authorized. Within AWS, an IAM user can have a maximum of two active access keys, facilitating seamless key rotation. The procedure to create an access key includes the automatic creation of an access key ID and a secret key, which should be securely stored immediately upon creation, as AWS does not allow for the retrieval of the secret key at a later time. Implementing good practices, such as routinely rotating and responsibly managing access keys, is crucial to maintaining secure user access to AWS services.

This task pertains to managing and refreshing AWS Identity and Access Management (IAM) user credentials to uphold security best practices. IAM access keys, which consist of an access key ID and a secret access key, are used to authenticate AWS API requests. However, if these keys are compromised or simply aged, updating them becomes crucial to safeguard the account. Updating might involve changing the status of the keys (activating or deactivating them), in this case we are deactivating them. The practice of regularly updating access keys is crucial in minimizing the risk associated with long-term key usage or potential unauthorized access.

This task refers to the removal of an AWS Identity and Access Management (IAM) user's access keys, ensuring they can no longer be used for authentication with AWS services and resources. IAM access keys comprise an access key ID and a secret access key, which are employed to sign programmatic requests that you make to AWS. Whether it is for security compliance, a response to a security incident, or part of a key rotation policy, deleting an IAM access key is a critical operation. After deletion, any applications or users utilizing the deleted access key will lose access to AWS resources, so it is crucial to update all instances where the key is used before deletion. Additionally, AWS recommends regular access key rotation as a best practice, which involves creating a new key, updating all applications to use the new key, and then safely deleting the old key to maintain secure and functional access control.